Lantern-carrier.



J. L. 0 NEIL.

LANTERN CARRIER.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 22, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys JAY L. O NEIL, OF LIVERMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LANTERN-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Application filed April 22, 1912. Serial No. 692,348.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY L. O NEIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Livermore, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Lantern-Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

The device herein disclosed is adapted to be employed for supporting a lantern of ordinary construction upon the body of an operator, thereby leaving the hands of the operator free.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of this type which may be elongated to accommodate lanterns of different heights, the structure including a movable element which may be adjusted to accommodate lanterns of different widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for assembling the neckengaging member with the supporting structure, whereby the neck-engaging member may be adjusted transversely of the supporting structure and be held frictionally thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a structure of the type herein disclosed, a single element of novel and improved form adapted at once to serve as a body-engaging member and to serve as a support for the reflector.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 shows the in vention in perspective; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the supporting cross bar and of the extension which is slidably adjustable therein; Fig. 4 is a fragmental rear elevation of the fixed portion of the device, the view illustrating the cooperation between the bail and the bail-receiving socket; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a frame comprising a fixed member 1 and a movable member 2. The fixed member 1 comprises tubular arms 3 which diverge adjacent their lower ends to accommodate the lantern body, the diverging portions of the arms 3 being denoted by the numeral 4. The lower ends of the portions 4 of the arms 3 are connected by a cross bar 5 located at right angles to the arms 3. Secured to the intermediate portion of the cross bar 5 and extending upon both sides thereof is a tubular supporting bar 6 which is located in a common plane with the cross bar 5. Fixed to and upstanding from the rear end of the supporting bar 6 is a finger 7 adapted to engage the rear portion of the periphery of the lantern body. Slidable within the supporting bar 6 is an extension 8 provided at its outer end with an upstanding finger 9 adapted to cooperate with the finger 7 in engaging the periphery of the lantern body, the bottom of the lantern body being supported by the bars 5 and 6. The extension 8 is a tubular structure and mounted to slide therein is a plunger 10 provided at its outer end with a push button 11. The inner end of the plunger 10 is adapted to engage a spring 11' secured adjacent one end to the extension 8 as indicated at 12. The opposite end of the spring 11 is equipped with a finger 14 adapted to register in openings 15 which may be brought into registration when the extension 8 is slid in the cross bar 6. Intermediate the finger 14 and the point of attachment 12 between the spring 11 and the extension 8, the spring 11 is curved to define a shoulder 16 which is engageable by the inner end of the plunger 10 to retract the finger 14 out of the openings 15.

Fixed to and projecting rearwardly from the intermediate portions of the arms 3 is a body-engaging member 17 comprising diverging arms 18 and a connecting bar 19 which is concaved toward the arms 3. Secured to the intermediate portion of the concaved cross bar 19 is a reflector 20. The body-engaging member 17 exercises three functions; it constitutes a means for supporting the reflector 20, it serves to space the lantern apart from the body of the operator, so that the garments cannot be soiled by the lantern, and it serves as a means whereby the lantern may be supported from the body of the wearer. Owing to the concavity of the cross bar 19, the cross bar is strengthened so as to furnish an adequate support for the reflector 20. The concavity of the cross bar 19 also permits the cross bar to conform to the body of the operator.

Secured to the rear faces of the arms 3 are sockets 21 comprising spaced upper and lower walls 22. Slidably mounted in the walls 22 of the sockets 21 is an arched bail 23 adapted to extend about the neck of the wearer. The bail is curved transversely as indicated at 24, so that the bail will bind frictionally in the walls 22 of the sockets 21 when the bail is raised and lowered, the construction being such that the bail is held frictionally at any desired height in the sockets 21. The bail at its free end is equipped with laterally projecting fingers 25 adapted to engage the lower walls 22 of the sockets 21 to prevent the complete withdrawal of the bail 23 from the sockets. It is to be noted that the curvature in the bail indicated at 24 not only provides for a frictional mounting of the bail in the sockets 21 but, as well, permits the bend of the bail to be spaced at different distances from the arms 3 and from the cross bar 19, so that the bend of the bail will engage properly with the neck of the operator.

The movable member 2 is of arched form, and its intermediate portion is equipped with a knob 26 whereby the movable member 2 may be raised and lowered readily in the arms 3 of the relatively fixed member 4. The arms of the movable member 2 are equipped with approaching fingers 27 adapted to hold the lantern against displacement.

In practical operation, the base of the lantern is supported by the bars 6 and 5, the finger 7 preventing the base of the lantern from moving rearwardly. The plunger 10 is pushed inwardly by means of the button 11 until the inner end of the plunger engages the shoulder 16 of the spring 11 retracting the finger 14 out of the alined openings 15, whereupon the extension 8 may be adjusted in the supporting bar 6 until the inclined finger 9 engages the edge of the body of the lantern, whereupon, if the plunger 10 be retracted and the extension 8 forced inwardly, the finger 14 will engage again in the openings 15, thereby holding the inclined finger 9 engaged with the lantern.

The knob 26 may be seized to facilitate the raising and lowering of the movable member 2 so that the fingers 27 may be engaged properly with the lantern. 'The bail 23 may be lowered and raised in the sockets 21 until the desired adjustment is obtained, it being noted that the bail 23 is adjustable for the purpose of positioning the lantern vertically upon the body of the operator, and for the purpose of altering the relative positions between the bend of the bail and the cross bar 19, so that the lantern will hang vertically.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is '1. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure adapted to uphold a lantern; and a neck-engaging bail slidably upheld upon the supporting structure, the bail being curved transversely to facilitate the frictional hold of the bail upon the supporting structure and to permit transverse adjustment of the supporting structure with respect to the body of the wearer.

2. In a device of the class described, a lantern-supporting structure; and a neckengaging bail slidably connected with the supporting structure; a body-engaging member projecting from the intermediate portion of the supporting structure, below the bail, the bail being transversely curved, whereby when the bail is slid, the bend of the bail may be adjusted transversely of the supporting structure to cooperate with the body-engaging member and to hold the supporting structure vertically.

3. In a device of the class described, a lantern-supporting structure; a body-engaging member projecting from the supporting structure and provided with a cross bar concaved toward the supporting structure; and a reflector mounted upon the cross bar; the concavity of the cross bar permitting the same to receive the body of the operator and reinforcing the cross bar to uphold the reflector.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; an extension slidable therein and adapted to engage a portion of the periphery of the bottom of a lantern; a spring secured to the extension and provided with a finger, there being alinable openings in the extension and in the supporting structure, in which openings the finger is adapted to register; and a plunger slidable in the extension and adapted to en gage the spring to withdraw the finger from the openings, whereby the extension may be adjusted to engage the bottom of the lantern.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure comprising a fixed part and a part movable thereon in one direction; an element movable upon the fixed part in a direction at right angles to the line of movement of the movable part; a body'- engaging member projecting from the fixed part at right angles to the line of movement of the movable part; and a neck-engaging bail adjustable upon the fixed part transversely of the line of movement of the movable part; the movable part being adjustmy own, I have hereto aflixed my signature able to accommodate lantebrns of different in the presence of two Witnesses. heights, and the said mova 1e element being adjustable to accommodate lanterns of dif- JAY O NEIL ferent Widths; and a reflector supported Witnesses: upon the body-engaging member. W. S. MILLER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as H. H. HOSAOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, .D. 0. 

